“We have big plans with Isla Vida,” said Foster. “We’re thinking about the future with this restaurant. And honestly, we’re only using a fraction of the ideas that we have for this place. What works here, we’re going to take that into other projects that could be tied to this.”

As a concept, Foster, whose Farmer Brown restaurant has been a stalwart in the Tenderloin for more than 12 years, said Isla Vida is an exploration into the food he’s been cooking his whole life — soul food.

“We’re telling a story with our food, going back and learning the history of dishes and where they came from,” he said.

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The search is is represented in the opening night menu which includes grilled snapper, garlic shrimp, a chicken plate (served with Cuban or jerk style) with plantains, and a cubano, among other things.

Isla Vida skews toward fast-casual in terms of service as Foster and his team have placed an emphasis on take-out orders made at the counter. Foster said next month, Isla Vida will focus on its delivery efforts with the addition of a small fleet of bicycles to be used to deliver food in the surrounding area.

More than anything else, Isla Vida represents new life in the Fillmore, a San Francisco neighborhood that has been in need of new black-owned businesses, according to Matthew Washington who grew up in the neighborhood.

“We have to see what the people think,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about right now. But we definitely have some ideas in the works.”